Internet scam artists come and go. On kingsnake.com, we'd prefer they go somewhere else. That's why we have lots of systems in place to protect our visitors and advertisers.

Because we have so many tools in our security kit, our fraud rate on-site is considerably lower than many comparable classified and auction sites. While we keep most of them secret for obvious reasons, there are a few we'd like to share with you in a series of posts, starting with this one.

One of our most important tools, and least discussed, is the kingsnake.com registered business program. Ever wondered what it is, why we implemented it, and whether it's worth participating in it?

Because kingsnake.com is the largest and best-known reptile and amphibian classified system in the world, it's a natural target for unscrupulous sellers wanting to take advantage of our reputation and the reputations of the biggest names in the herp industry. To prevent unauthorized sellers from "hijacking" an existing business name or hiding behind a false or non-existent business name, we created the registered business program.

First launched in February of 2007, the program requires anyone posting classified ads using a business name to verify their legal ownership of that business name and the identity of the business owner(s) with our security staff.

Although individuals are free to post without registering a business name, only businesses that can prove they are who they say they are allowed to post ads in the name of a business in our classifieds.

That way, no one but you can claim to be you, and no animals or products but yours will be advertised on our site under your business name. Additionally, it verifies that new business name across the country you have never heard of actually exists legally as a business, giving buyers recourse should their be a problem with their purchase.

The kingsnake.com registered business program is free and simple to sign up for. To read more about it, and how we protect our site members and visitors, or to register your business click here!